May 27, 2026
Last week, students in Mrs. Becky Sphar’s foods on your own class had an unforgettable hands-on learning experience during a field trip to the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, part of Niagara County Community College.
Students participated in an educational cooking class led by Chef Emily Lonigan, where they learned the art of making fresh pasta completely from scratch. From mixing and preparing their own dough to rolling out pasta by hand, students experienced every step of the pasta-making process. They also created their own sauces, choosing from several different options or customizing flavors to make something uniquely their own. After cooking their homemade pasta and sauce, students enjoyed sitting down together to eat the delicious meals they created themselves.
In addition to the cooking experience, students toured the Culinary Institute and had the opportunity to see firsthand the incredible facilities and programs offered there. Known as one of the most comprehensive and well-equipped culinary arts facilities in the eastern United States, the institute provided students with an inspiring look into culinary education and career opportunities.
Students were especially excited to learn that Kim Piorun, an Attica alumnus, recently completed her first year at the institute and received a prestigious Gold Award Honor for her exceptional work and accomplishments there. Hearing about the success of a former Attica student made the experience even more meaningful and inspiring for the class.
The trip left students feeling accomplished, excited about learning a new life skill, and certainly full after enjoying their freshly made pasta creations! Experiences like this give students meaningful, real-world opportunities to build confidence, creativity, and independence outside of the traditional classroom setting.
A special thank you goes to our school administration for supporting opportunities like this and encouraging students to explore hands-on educational experiences beyond the classroom. Their support helps make memorable and valuable learning experiences possible for our students!
(Photos courtesy of Becky Sphar)
Students participated in an educational cooking class led by Chef Emily Lonigan, where they learned the art of making fresh pasta completely from scratch. From mixing and preparing their own dough to rolling out pasta by hand, students experienced every step of the pasta-making process. They also created their own sauces, choosing from several different options or customizing flavors to make something uniquely their own. After cooking their homemade pasta and sauce, students enjoyed sitting down together to eat the delicious meals they created themselves.
In addition to the cooking experience, students toured the Culinary Institute and had the opportunity to see firsthand the incredible facilities and programs offered there. Known as one of the most comprehensive and well-equipped culinary arts facilities in the eastern United States, the institute provided students with an inspiring look into culinary education and career opportunities.
Students were especially excited to learn that Kim Piorun, an Attica alumnus, recently completed her first year at the institute and received a prestigious Gold Award Honor for her exceptional work and accomplishments there. Hearing about the success of a former Attica student made the experience even more meaningful and inspiring for the class.
The trip left students feeling accomplished, excited about learning a new life skill, and certainly full after enjoying their freshly made pasta creations! Experiences like this give students meaningful, real-world opportunities to build confidence, creativity, and independence outside of the traditional classroom setting.
A special thank you goes to our school administration for supporting opportunities like this and encouraging students to explore hands-on educational experiences beyond the classroom. Their support helps make memorable and valuable learning experiences possible for our students!
(Photos courtesy of Becky Sphar)